Dear Subscriber

Recognising the value of the AONB as a tool in big issues of our time

The Shropshire Hills have been in the spotlight with approval of the AONB Management Plan by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on 12th June and reporting of this in the Shropshire Star. Just a week earlier we hosted a visit by Shropshire Council Leader Cllr Peter Nutting and Portfolio Holder Cllr Lezley Picton, along with Chief Executive Clive Wright and Director of Place Mark Barrow. The renewed commitment of Shropshire Council to support the AONB Partnership is very welcome.

The AONB Partnership tries to influence others and share responsibility for looking after the AONB. Discussions with the Council have included how they can support conserving and enhancing the Shropshire Hills throughout all of their work. The Shropshire Hills landscape is one of the county’s main assets and we all need to pursue economic activities that support rather than erode natural capital. This means giving greater weight to the value of the landscape in planning decisions, investment in paths and access infrastructure which supports people’s enjoyment and wellbeing. It also means greater emphasis on sustainable transport, walking, cycling and involving young people more.

Our AONB Partnership Tour on 11th June focussed on public goods and benefits from the landscape. We looked at the natural capital assets of the Shropshire Hills (soils, rivers, farmland, woods, biodiversity etc) and how these deliver services such as food, timber, water supplies and flood regulation, carbon storage, pollination, inspiration and wellbeing.

Shropshire Council along with many others has declared a climate emergency. This is important and welcome, but environmental challenges are more than just climate and carbon emissions - ecological issues (biodiversity, soil, food, water, plastics, pollution etc) are inter-connected. Conserving and enhancing the AONB contributes to addressing many of these issues, and the AONB Partnership helps people to work together and to involve and empower people locally in looking after their bit of our precious world.

Our River Clun Recovery Project achievements are highlighted above (click on image to expand).  Although this project has ended, our work in the Clun Catchment continues through a new project, Unmuddying the Waters...

...Unmuddying the Waters

This is a two year agreement with the Environment Agency to enable Clun Catchment Officer, Alison Jones, to advise landowners along the river and fund capital works to improve the condition of the catchment. The Clun catchment consists of seven waterbodies (tributary streams). The presence of freshwater pearl mussel found in the lowest 5km of the river led to it being designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This bottom section of the river is also part of the River Teme SSSI. Due to the position of the SAC within the catchment, inputs from all seven waterbodies influence water quality. ‘Unmuddying the Waters’ will continue to make a positive improvement to help meet habitat and water quality targets. For more information please get in touch with Alison, 01743 254745 or email: alison.jones@shropshire.gov.uk.

The value of upland Commons

This spring a series of walks and talks have helped people find out more about our upland commons in the Shropshire Hills; the habitats and wildlife they support, their rich heritage and the practice of commoning.  These activities are helping to shape a bid to National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a national project to support the centuries-old heritage of upland commons in four of England’s most significant cultural landscapes. The project will work to secure better collaborative management, reconnect people with commons and improve public benefits.  If you use commons, or are interested in what they are and how they work, then we want to hear from you - Please take a few minutes (it should take less than 10) to complete our survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OurCommonCause.

Supporting practical conservation and education in the Shropshire Hills

As meadows burst into colour this month, why not join your local plant group to help survey these special sites in the Shropshire Hills. The AONB Conservation Fund is supporting a series of walks and workshops for people interested in plants to encourage more people to get involved in active conservation. Everyone welcome, and for more information please contact Rob Rowe on 01588 630648 or email rob@robrowe.co.uk.

• Monday 24th June & Tuesday 9th July, surveying species-rich grassland on east side of the Stiperstones, 10.30am - 2.30pm.
• Wednesday 17th July, ID day looking at grasses, sedges and ruches on Stapeley Common, 10.30am - 2pm.

The Shropshire Hills AONB Trust has distributed £15,000 through the AONB Conservation Fund to 11 local projects this year. These projects are helping to deliver practical conservation and/or educational activity about the AONB.  As well as plant surveys, projects include planting for pollinators at the Wrekin, monitoring Whinchat numbers on the Long Mynd, and a summer club for young people at Brynmawr Farm. Click on this link to read short summaries about each project.

Helping hands on the Long Mynd

We have been helping children from the Shropshire Hills Federation (Chirbury, Stiperstones & Norbury primary schools) to explore the Long Mynd common as part of their John Muir Award. Over four visits, the 50-strong school party have looked at the wildlife and archaeology on the Long Mynd. They have learnt about visitor pressures on the common, visited the gliding club, and helped to repair footpaths. They have also made two farm visits to meet the commoners, their sheep, cattle and sheepdogs. They've discovered what's involved in being a shepherd and were fascinated to find out that you can age sheep by looking at their teeth.

“What a fantastic day years 4, 5 and 6 from all three schools had yesterday on The Long Mynd. We were so lucky to have the opportunity to work with a professional archaeologist and then we worked with the National Trust to repair a very muddy path at Boiling Well. We had so many positive comments about children’s efforts and behaviour, from walkers as they passed by; I was a very proud headteacher! Thank you to all our children.” Les Ball, Headteacher.

An EXPO-sive Event Over 30 exhibitors and 120 people came to the Shropshire Hills Tourism Expo in March as part of Tourism Week. Ludlow Racecourse saw local business owners picking up ‘hot off the press’ leaflets promoting our destination. Shropshire Hills Tourism launched the new destination branding. This will help us coordinate our promotion of the area to our visitors. They also launched The Great Shropshire Hills Cream Tea Trail. Everyone enjoyed fresh scones from Ludlow Kitchen, one of this year’s Cream Tea Trail tea shops. Shropshire Councillor for Culture, Lezley Picton opened the afternoon tourism conference. The guest speaker was Carol Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Europarc Federation. Carol spoke of the power of working together and sharing inspiration for greener tourism. Shane Harris shared success stories from North Pennines AONB. We also heard from Tish Dockerty from Local to Ludlow. She championed the local foods at the heart of Ludlow’s tourism offer. Plans for next year’s event are already under way.

Working in partnership to plant trees in the AONB

We are working with the Woodland Trust to plant more trees in the AONB. If you’re looking to plant trees on your farm or private land we can offer: • Tailored advice • Grants and funding • Trees and protection Whether you want to plant a shelterbelt or harvest your own wood fuel, we can visit your site to look at where you want to plant, help you design your woodland and select the most appropriate species mix. • Trees: All the trees are sourced and grown in the UK - minimum 500 • Species: our advisors will select the best species for you and your land • Size of land: more than 0.5 hectares (1.25 acres) • Protection: we will help you choose the correct protection for your trees • Advisor: yes – site visit by AONB or Woodland Trust For more details please see: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/large-scale/ or contact the AONB Partnership on 01743 254740 or shropshirehillsaonb@shropshire.gov.uk.

Fix the Fort Appeal – Update

We are continuing to raise money to repair the erosion on Caer Caradoc Hillfort. So far, we’ve raised £1,100 of our £10,000 total. This is excellent but sadly not enough to start work yet. We have pushed the works back to 2020 to allow us time to raise more money, so that we can tackle a sizeable section in one go. Many thanks to the growing list of volunteers who are pledging their time to help us when the physical work begins. We are also looking for local people who can help us fund raise and collect money from the various donation boxes in the Church Stretton area. To donate online go to www.fixthefort.co.uk or pick up a leaflet to donate by cheque. Fix the Fort Appeal leaflets are available from the Library, Town Council Office and Outdoor Depot.

Mountain Bikers on the Hillfort

We have had reports of mountain bikers riding on the hillfort. This is causing further wear to the already eroded ramparts. This is very concerning as it is working against the generosity of the many people who have donated. The hillfort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and only for people to enjoy on foot. We are asking local people to discourage mountain bike enthusiasts and ask them to keep to bridleways and byways rather than exploring off the tracks. If you see mountain bikers on the hillfort, please can you report this to us via email or by phone. We will be working with the landowner and Rights of Way Team to discourage biking on the hill. 

Helping us raise money Many thanks to everyone who has supported the project so far. We’ve made an excellent start but need more help. If you’d like to help us raise money by having an event or getting sponsored please get in touch. Your support will be hugely appreciated, and you’ll be helping conserve a much loved and icon part of our landscape. Fort Fixing Festival Many thanks to the Church Stretton Walking Festival who have agreed to donate some of the profits from the walking festival to the Caering for Caradoc cause. We’d be delighted to hear from any events in the Church Stretton area or further afield who would like to raise funds for the project. A walk is being led on Friday 21st June to explore the hillfort and tell its stories as part of the vibrant festival programme.

Support the Shropshire Hills by becoming a Friend from as little as £3/month. Your subscription goes entirely into our AONB Conservation Fund which supports local projects to raise awareness and conserve the Shropshire Hills landscape, its diverse wildlife and rich heritage. http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/a-special-place/friends/.

We work to help conserve and enhance the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Shropshire Hills AONB is one of 46 AONBs in the UK. The AONB Partnership is hosted by Shropshire Council and funded also by Defra, Telford & Wrekin Council and project funders.

 Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, Unit 9 Drovers House, 
The Auction Yard, CRAVEN ARMS, SY7 9BZ
01743 254740
www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk
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